麻豆社

Benjamin Netanyahu is Israel鈥檚 longest serving prime minister. He was born in Tel Aviv in 1949, the year after the State of Israel was founded. One of three brothers, Netanyahu spent much of his early years in the United States pursuing his education. But following his older brother鈥檚 death, Netanyahu found himself drawn into a career in the public eye. Using his military experience to advise on security matters, in 1984 Netanyahu became Israel鈥檚 Ambassador to the UN and established himself as a champion of Israel on the international stage.

He returned to Israel and entered the world of politics; in 1993, he became the leader of the Likud party, and was elected prime minister in 1996, a position he has held for much of the following decades. Mark Coles profiles the longest-serving Israeli prime minister

(Photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem, 19 March 2026, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Credit: Ronen Zvulun//EPA)